tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post8864598066957998123..comments2024-03-22T17:05:55.267-04:00Comments on MD Whistleblower: Mammograms Overdiagnose Breast Cancer - Let the Games Begin!Michael Kirsch, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07555280388086931097noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post-79936169200430020902013-05-02T17:16:25.968-04:002013-05-02T17:16:25.968-04:00I appreciate that you said: "Patients need to...I appreciate that you said: "Patients need to know the medical evidence that supports our medical advice.". I think it is very important for the patient to be educated on what happens to their bodies. When my wife was learning about <a href="http://www.evdi.com/procedures/breast-imaging" rel="nofollow">mammography in Chandler, AZ</a>, the physicians did a very good job with educating her.<br />Thank you for writing your extensive post, My wife and I enjoyed reading it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16325636328093248471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post-88610950850480495382012-12-03T14:36:28.277-05:002012-12-03T14:36:28.277-05:00When I saw the 11-22-12 article in NEJM on overdi...When I saw the 11-22-12 article in NEJM on overdiagnosis of breast cancer I could hardly wait to read it. I did not find the results surprising. It validated what I concluded several years ago from my own awful experiences. Every time I had a mammogram I was called to come back, and sometimes was also followed up with an ultrasound. This process in itself was frightening and stressful. Each time the conclusion, after all of the exams were finished was "you just have fibrocystic breasts - don't worry". Well it is hard not to worry through the whole process and afterward wonder if one technician did a better job of obtaining films then another one and/or if one radiologist was more accomplished at interpreting the results, so which conclusion was really correct. Was there really "something" to worry about or not???<br /><br />No one ever told me there were any risks to mammograms - only benefits.<br />I really don't think I experienced any benefits - just lots of pain and discomfort - the exam itself is horrible - and lots of stress. <br />I have not had a mammogram for several years and have no intention of having another one unless I find something suspicious when doing a self exam. <br />Women (as a group) really need to be better advocates for themselves so we get the treatments we do truly need and not a lot of treatments that we do not.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post-45804449790434924042012-12-03T10:19:23.649-05:002012-12-03T10:19:23.649-05:00I think you should write your own blog! Appreciat...I think you should write your own blog! Appreciate your comments. Michael Kirsch, M.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07555280388086931097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post-71319240298879809732012-12-02T18:47:12.630-05:002012-12-02T18:47:12.630-05:00If I were to rank-order those whose best interests...If I were to rank-order those whose best interests are protected by mammography, I'd put patients near the bottom of the list.<br /><br />I had my first mammogram shortly after age 40 at one of the nation's fine teaching hospitals. Shortly after the images were taken, a radiologist walked into the exam room and started talking about the need for for me to follow up with an ultrasound, then another mammogram. I asked what was wrong and wasn't given a clear answer aside from 'this is your first one, so we have to be sure'. I followed up with the ultrasound, which found nothing; however, I was told that I should get another mammogram 6 months later, which I refused to do. No matter who I spoke to at the hospital, my repeated question of why I needed it was never answered directly, but was always responded to with that similar 'we need to be sure' retort, including from my primary care doc who was located at the same hospital. (However, she backed down when I cited concern about radiation exposure.) The entire experience seemed like a colossal exercise in due diligence from the legal or risk management department, all of which caused me a lot of stress and anxiety and the time.<br /><br />I ended up switching to a doctor afilliated with a different hospital and did have a mammogram 2.5 years after the first one, which was normal. But in the time between these two mammograms, I received fairly regular reminders of my need to get a mammogram -- from my insurance company. Not only did I get postcards and letters, but also periodic robocalls from the plan's headquarters. I'm fairly sure that their concern had less to do with breast health than they did to ensure a high HEDIS score for the health plan on mammography.<br /><br />In addition to my own experience, seeing two women I know go through treatment for "stage zero" breast cancer gives me a lot of pause, too. Both were advised to get aggressive treatment because it's better to be safe than sorry. Is this providing patients with options, or minimizing litigation risk?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com